ARC Review: Bright Blaze of Magic

Black Blade: Bright Blaze of Magic | Jennifer Estep

Published by: Kensington Books, April 26th 2016

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Magic

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Kensington, via Netgalley

Bad Things Always Come In Threes…

As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

"An adventurous ride you will never want to get off." --#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout on Cold Burn of Magic 

Finally! An enjoyable finale that didn't rip my heart into tiny little pieces. Thank you, Bright Blaze of Magic for this relief. Not to say this book isn't still emotional and packed with heartbreak - cause it totally is. But there's always Lila/Devon's super sweet love to balance all the hurt and torturing and kidnapping.

This book is as action filled and exciting as urban fantasy gets. Actually as any book gets. It's a great blend of mob war and paranormal, with quirky monsters to boot. The characters are pretty epic too - I love the interactions between Lila, Devon, Felix, and Deah - and I ADORED Lila and Deah's enemies-to-sisters journey. I love my ladies being supportive of each other. Lila herself is a dynamic character, and every emotion she experiences feels so real that I feel it too. This book just has everything I like. Great characters, great plot, incredibly unique world populated with magic and monsters and mortals, and simmering romance.

A fun, exciting series for fantasy fans of all kinds. Lila is kickass and funny and you'll love her story of secrets and revenge.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Dark Heart of Magic (ARC Review)

Black Blade: Dark Heart of Magic | Jennifer Estep

Published by: Kensington Books, October 27th 2015

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Kensington, via Netgalley

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...

This isn't quite as good as the first book. Maybe that's because a tournament takes up the most part of this book and I am SO BORED of tournaments and championships. Every time one crops up in a book, I yawn. BUT I did like everything else in this book.

The characters continue to be awesome. I really like Lila, and I love her and Devon's slow and natural romance. But my favourite in this was actually Deah??? I love how she fell into the typical bitchy girl role but broke that mould so much, and I ADORE the plot twist between her and Lila. I hope she and Felix get their happily ever after!

Aside from the tournament, the story was pretty awesome. There's mob tension, spying, and the expected monster fights. I thought the villain was pretty obvious from the start, and I'm a little disappointed it didn't turn out to be Poppy. I get a serious Natalie Dashkov vibe from her!!!

Overall, a good book full of action, fun, and secrets. I want book 3!

SIDE NOTE: What is with the gravestones on the cover???? Lila goes into a graveyard twice and it's really not pivotal to the plot AT ALL. I feel like they went for the generic UF cover thing with this and the book deserves better!! Put the darn mansion in the background.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

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Cold Burn of Magic (ARC Review)

Black Blade: Cold Burn of Magic | Jennifer Estep

Published by: Kensington Books, April 28th 2015

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Monsters, Magic

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Kensington, via Netgalley

There Be Monsters Here. . .

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power. 

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick. 

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her. . .

Cold Burn of Magic introduces a killer new urban fantasy series and a memorable world of monsters and magicks.

In the Black Blade series monsters and humans live side by side in a contemporary tourist trap town, ruled over by Families - mob-like families of humans with magic called Talents. Lila, hiding from her mother's murder and harbouring a rare and valuable Talent, stays as far from the Families as possible, until she saves the life of Devon, the son of a Family head, and is dragged into the drama and danger of the Families.

This series is imaginative. I loved all the elements of magic, and how the monsters had a traditional vibe about them. I especially liked how they weren't shifters, since we only usually see monsters in YA if they have a super-mega-hot human form too. This book harks back to the monsters of old stories, with bridge tolls and lochness monsters, and it's really cool. I enjoyed the Talents, too, and while they weren't exactly unique I liked Lila's Talent - being able to absorb others' Talents. The mob angle was pretty awesome too and made this feel really original.

The characters were pretty average, not amazing but not bad. I think Devon was my favourite, with how vulnerable yet capable he was, despite being the male love interest in an UF. He swerved the whole alpha male thing and I liked him better for it. Lila, the MC, was likable and tough, hiding her fears behind attitude and fights. I didn't have any problem with her, and I did connect with her, but I wouldn't say much else for her character.

I enjoyed the setting and monsters of Cold Burn of Magic and I'm excited to see where the story goes next. An original, entertaining book!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Reading round up (69)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

9th March

Was in London today for a short visit, so didn't get much read. Still, I read 10% of Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep, which is more than I expected.

10th March

Finished Cold Burn of Magic and I'm already looking forward to book two, Dark Heart of Magic!! This book was a fun, promising start to a new urban fantasy series.


I also started The Arctic Code by Matthew J. Kirby (20%) which I like so far! The MC is hella reckless which makes everything she's doing uber dangerous and stupid (and feels unrealistic to me but that's just her personality and I don't understand it I guess.)

11th March

I read 20% of The Arctic Code, which is pretty good. I also started Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter (19% read), a book I only got because it was £0.59, and it's SO GOOD. Amazing characters and world-building and hella hot angels!! As well as this, I read Lois Lane: A Real Work of Art by Gwenda Bond, a fun little short.

12th March

I read 33% of Wicked Nights, bringing me to 52% and I'M LOVING IT. It's just the right amount of romance amongst all the action and demons!!

13th March

Read 26% of Wicked Nights and loving it. Just got to the exciting part and had to stop. Gah!!

14th March

Spent most of the day reading my first draft of The Dryad of Callaire and looking for inspiration to finish it, so I only read 13% of Wicked Nights, bringing me to 91%. I reeeeeeeeeeeally could have done without that last sex scene. It was boring and read like a dozen fanfics I've read, and with this being actually pubbed I expected better. Also how many times can you use decadent in one book??? That's taken it down at least half a star, probably a full star for me.

15th March

Finished Wicked Nights (9%) and started Death Sworn by Leah Cypess (113 pages.)

Books finished this week: 3
Books DNF'd this week: 0

Mira was having a kindle sale so I basically bought EVERYTHING. Aimee Carter's first two Blackcoat Rebellion books, Amanda Sun's Ink and the short story Shadow, Gena Showalter's first two White Rabbit Chronicles, her entire Angels of The Dark trilogy (which is SO GOOD!!), the first book of her Atlantis series, Unravelled (because I own the first in series!)

Lois Lane: A Real Work of Art | Gwenda Bond

The Waterborne Blade | Susan Murray

Galleys, galleys, galleys

SARUUH EXPLORES NA: Shifting Fate

Cold Burn of Magic (scheduled for 24th April)

The Arctic Code

Lois Lane: A Real Work of Art (scheduled for March 31st in a mini-reviews round up!)

Reading round up (68)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

2nd March

I read 83 pages of Smoulder by Brenna Yovanoff and I'm loving this. In the last 20 or so pages I've found that Yovanoff magic I adored in The Replacement. Also Truman is veeeeeerry reminiscent of Cole from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, with his self destructive tendencies. I'm gonna fall hard for him by the end, I can see it.

I also read 10% of Blades of Magic by Terah Edun, bringing me to 35%. It's taking me a while to read it but other than my slow progress, I don't mind it so far. I think I'll end up liking Ezekiel.

3rd March

Finished Smoulder (212 pages read) and the end ruined me. Like full on sobbing. This is a devastating book and induces awful emotions.

I also started Ferals by Jacob Grey (13%), which is fairly interesting so far. I like the crows and the escaped criminals.

4th March

I read 90 pages of Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow, bringing me to page 207. Gotta get my butt in gear and finish this by tomorrow! I'm liking it but I can't connect with the romance and that's dampening my enjoyment somewhat.

5th March

Finished Crow Moon (198 pages) and I'll be honest, I skimmed the last 100 pages. The characters don't do anything for me, even if I liked the magic and setting. I'd love the series to be from Melz POV.

I also read 2% of Blades of Magic and I'm not sure where this is going but sticking with it. That 2% felt like 10% though ... 

As well as this I read 42% of King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright because I need something guaranteed to be good to break up my mediocre reads RN.

6th March

Finished King of Ash and Bone and while I enjoyed it and didn't mind the characters, I didn't fall for them like Aern and Emily or Logan and Brianna, and actually some of the transitions between Earth and the dying lands confused the hell out of me. I couldn't see what was happening. Still a pretty awesome paranormal post-apocalyptic and I'd recommend it without question.

I also read a further 23% of Ferals, and I don't love it, but it's interesting.

7th March

I finished Ferals (60% read) and I know I said I liked the crows and escaped criminals but I thought this book would involve MORE than that... :/ I also started Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep (19% read). Fairly intriguing so far, despite the HUGE overload of information at the beginning.

8th March

I read 48% of Cold Burn of Magic, bringing me to 67%, and it's proper growing on me. Sad I won't have much opportunity to read it the next two days since I'm going to London.

Books finished this week: 4
Books DNF'd this week: 0

The Pyramids of London | Andrea K Host

Cold Burn of Magic | Jennifer Estep

Got these two beauties from Netgalley!! Excited to read them, as I've been meaning to read both the author's books for some time!

Smoulder

Crow Moon

Ferals (scheduled for 23rd April)

The Paper Magician

The Winner's Crime

Justice Calling

SARUUH EXPLORES NA: Bound by Prophecy